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Acrylic

in Modern
Aquarium Construction
Aquarium Window Design Types and Examples

Way Beyond Ordinar y


Overview

Modern technology and materials have provided for attraction exhibits that were
simply not possible a relatively short while ago. For example, could past generations
have imagined a place where they could stand, at room temperature, while observing
polar bears swimming by overhead? Or sliding safely through a clear tube within
shark-infested waters? Most likely not, but such surrealistic experiences are available
in many locations today through the use of acrylic. Modern aquarium and zoo
windows are almost exclusively being made from this material that can be made to
The shark slide at the Golden Nugget resort nearly any shape or size, is lighter than glass, stronger than concrete, and completely
in Las Vegas, Nevada. transparent.

Flat Panels: Cube Oceanarium Chengdu, China

"Modern technology and The most common type of aquarium exhibit is based on the flat acrylic panel. Such
materials have provided windows may be rectangular or circular, small or large. What all quality flat panels
for attraction exhibits that have in common is the ability to safely retain water and a remarkable clarity. The
were simply not possible a thickness and shape of the panel will be the result of many factors, including the size
of the exhibit and the type of animals within.
relatively short while ago."
Todays aquarium visitor has grown to expect panels of a certain size. So called
mega panels can be anywhere from the length of a small semi-trailer to that of a
commercial airliner. All such windows are made possible though chemical bonding,
which allows multiple panels to be fused together. However, with many acrylic
manufacturers, there are all too often unsightly bonds that ruin the illusion being
sought by the public, which is the momentary sense that they are somehow

Unsightly bonds, as shown here on a competitor's panel, inhibit the viewing experience of guests.

immersed inside of an underwater world versus standing outside of one. Not until
recently has there been a way to truly erase bonds from the public eye.

Reynolds Polymer Technology, Inc. 607 Hollingsworth Street Grand Junction, CO 81505 970.241.4700
RPT Asia, Limited 109/15 Moo 4 Eastern Seaboard Industrial Estate Soi ESIE 6B Pluakdaeng Rayong 21140 Thailand
reynoldspolymer.com Contact: Ed Mueck, Marketing Manager
Way Beyond Ordinar y 2014. R-Cast and Way Beyond Ordinary are registered trademarks of Reynolds Polymer Technology, Inc. All rights reserved.
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The recently opened Cube Oceanarium in Chengdu, China is one of the largest
aquariums in the world. Here we find a variety of flat acrylic panels being utilized
to provide the public with extraordinary underwater views. Cube has an incredible
10,000 different species of marine life including both warm and cold water exhibits.

Two panels at Cube Oceanarium designed by acrylic manufacturer Reynolds Polymer


Technology belong to a new breed of viewing window that feature the nearly invisible
Signature Bond. Each panel is 24-feet high, 17-feet long and tilted at a 10 degree
angle. The windows weigh in at 24 tons a piece and are 15 thick. Each required
a 24-foot vertical bond to fuse two separate panel sections together. Neither bond is
detectable from the majority of viewing angles. How is this possible? Proprietary RPT
technology has allowed even the longest of bonds to be positioned and scaled like no
other bond on the market.
"Proprietary RPT
technology has allowed
even the longest of bonds
to be positioned and
scaled like no other bond
on the market."

A Signature Bond panel at Cube Aquarium. A 24 ft vertical bond runs down the center.

What Cube Oceanarium represents is nothing less than the future of bonded acrylic
aquarium panels. Coming soon are R-Cast viewing windows of a larger size
than ever seen before and without detectable chemical bonds. Look for aquarium
attendance numbers to grow as public opportunities to become one with the undersea
world become more and more spectacular. The virtual or V-Quarium will also play a
The V-quarium at the City of Dreams features
larger role moving forward. Projection flat panels, such as those featured at the City
an elegant "underwater" mermaid show.
of Dreams in Macau, China, allow for the illusion of any variety of plant or animal life
that one can bring to mind, including mermaids as pictured at left.

Reynolds Polymer Technology, Inc. 607 Hollingsworth Street Grand Junction, CO 81505 970.241.4700
RPT Asia, Limited 109/15 Moo 4 Eastern Seaboard Industrial Estate Soi ESIE 6B Pluakdaeng Rayong 21140 Thailand
reynoldspolymer.com Contact: Ed Mueck, Marketing Manager
Way Beyond Ordinar y 2014. R-Cast and Way Beyond Ordinary are registered trademarks of Reynolds Polymer Technology, Inc. All rights reserved.
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Tunnels: Journey to Churchill Winnipeg, Canada

The principle advantage of an underwater tunnel is that it allows the audience a


view of whats going on in the waters above them, not just in front. The sight of the
underbelly of a shark swimming overhead is certain to bring out delight in any crowd.
However, another advantage of aquarium tunnels is their ability to direct traffic. Tunnels
encourage movement. Those walking in will naturally meander to an exit on the other
side, allowing guests to be ushered through without feeling rushed. Nothing can clog
an exhibit or walkway like a handful of guests milling around without progressing
to the next station. On especially busy days, of which there are hopefully many, the
aquarium tunnel can be friend to both the public and staff.

Journey to Churchill in Winnipeg, Canada represents an expertly designed example


"Six-inch thick tunnel walls
are used to separate man
and bear, though the
clarity of R-Cast greatly
reduces the perceived
thickness."

Guests hope to spot a polar bear through an R-Cast tunnel at Journey to Churchill.

of the modern aquarium. There are a handful of underwater acrylic tunnels at the park
that allow for submerged viewing of a variety of wildlife. Churchill is home to both
polar bears and sealsa combination that normally would not mix well at all, but
appears to thanks to a nearly invisible barrier of clear acrylic between tunnel exhibits.

Visitors can observe the earths largest bear species while safely inside an R-Cast
One of the many benefits of tunnels is their aquarium tunnel that is over 35-feet long, 8-feet tall and 10-feet wide. Six-inch thick
ability to direct the flow of traffic. acrylic tunnel walls are used to separate man and bear, though the clarity of R-Cast
greatly reduces the perceived thickness. This structure is especially unique in that it has

Reynolds Polymer Technology, Inc. 607 Hollingsworth Street Grand Junction, CO 81505 970.241.4700
RPT Asia, Limited 109/15 Moo 4 Eastern Seaboard Industrial Estate Soi ESIE 6B Pluakdaeng Rayong 21140 Thailand
reynoldspolymer.com Contact: Ed Mueck, Marketing Manager
Way Beyond Ordinar y 2014. R-Cast and Way Beyond Ordinary are registered trademarks of Reynolds Polymer Technology, Inc. All rights reserved.
3
a 21 foot wide, 13 foot tall transparent face that allows for additional views.

The second R-Cast tunnel at Journey to Churchill is slightly smaller in length at 19


feet. However, this tunnel lets visitors observe not only bears but ringed seals as well. A
nearly invisible divider gives the appearance that both animal groups share the water in
harmony. The seal exhibits main observation window is 16 feet wide and allows for 11
vertical feet of viewing. A series of concave demi-tunnels provide further insight into the
seal exhibit.

The acrylic tunnels at Churchill, in combination with a variety of large flat panels, offer
some of the finest up-close opportunities for wildlife viewing in all of Canada. Over
100,000 people visited the park within its first month of opening, a testimony to the
drawing power that such exhibits can possess.
"The dome room
provides a transparent
Dome Rooms: aqua planet Yeosu Yeosu, South Korea
area with ample walking
space and 360 views A type of structure that has gained considerable popularity in recent years is the acrylic
of the surrounding dome room. The dome room provides a transparent area with ample walking space
environment." and 360 views of the surrounding environment. Their spherical shape provides for
more panoramic viewing opportunities than does the traditional flat aquarium panel or
tunnel. When positioned in a larger exhibit with ample aquatic life, there is perhaps no
better way for guests to witness the splendor of the sea than inside a dome.

The seamless dome room at Oklahoma


A lone diver swims beside the large dome at aqua planet Yeosu. Note the crowd inside the dome.
Aquarium .

Reynolds Polymer Technology, Inc. 607 Hollingsworth Street Grand Junction, CO 81505 970.241.4700
RPT Asia, Limited 109/15 Moo 4 Eastern Seaboard Industrial Estate Soi ESIE 6B Pluakdaeng Rayong 21140 Thailand
reynoldspolymer.com Contact: Ed Mueck, Marketing Manager
Way Beyond Ordinar y 2014. R-Cast and Way Beyond Ordinary are registered trademarks of Reynolds Polymer Technology, Inc. All rights reserved.
4
Dome rooms are rising in popularity for many reasons, not the least of which are
the aesthetic advantages. Their saucer-like shape and curved lines give a sleek
appearance. Domes bring with them, especially in combination with a tunneled
entrance, a sense of exclusivity. When outfitted with accents such as flooring and
seating options, dome rooms perhaps resemble a private submersible vehicle giving a
VIP tour of the ocean depths.

"Yeosu's acrylic dome


room is arguably the
most photographed
element of the park."

An internal view of the dome at Yeosu, which provides ample views in all directions.

The dome room at Yeosu, at one time the largest in the world, has a diameter of 20
feet and is entered via an underwater tunnel on either side. This dome, the first of its
kind in Asia, was designed to impress guests, immersing them and allowing them to
see aquatic life not just in front of them, but above them and all around them. Situated
on top of a designed rock formation, the dome at Yeosu is without mullions or unsightly
bonds. Crystal clear R-Cast walls are strong enough to keep the integrity of the
structure, yet not so thick as to distort the view.

Yeosu's acrylic dome room is arguably the most photographed element of the
park. It serves as a backdrop for aquatic shows and gives visitors a sense of scale.
Additionally it aids in providing a unique set of reciprocal views. Those looking through
the main viewing panel, which is an impressive 56-feet long by 23-feet high, can see
those in the dome and vice versa.
Mullions, as seen here at Indianapolis Zoo,

are an affordable alternative to chemical
RPT has manufactured dome rooms similar to that at Yeosu at Indian Springs Metro
bonds.
Park, Indianapolis Zoo, and Oklahoma Aquarium to name a few. Aquarium builder

Reynolds Polymer Technology, Inc. 607 Hollingsworth Street Grand Junction, CO 81505 970.241.4700
RPT Asia, Limited 109/15 Moo 4 Eastern Seaboard Industrial Estate Soi ESIE 6B Pluakdaeng Rayong 21140 Thailand
reynoldspolymer.com Contact: Ed Mueck, Marketing Manager
Way Beyond Ordinar y 2014. R-Cast and Way Beyond Ordinary are registered trademarks of Reynolds Polymer Technology, Inc. All rights reserved.
5
Reynolds Polymer is able to offer value aquarium engineering options as well to help
ensure that such a structure will fit within budget. A reduction in wall height, diameter,
or the substitution of mullions for chemical bonds can all serve to reduce the price.

Cylinders: Avia Park Mall

The concept of the cylinder-shaped aquarium, first made popular at the AquaDom
in Berlin, has truly proven to capture the imagination of the sight-seeing public. The
exposed nature of such aquarium windows puts the entire tank on display. Visitors are
able to see every fish and plant from multiple angles. In many other types of tanks,
The AquaDom at the Radisson Blu Hotel in views inside are limited to only a couple of panels, leaving the true size of the habitat
Berlin, Germany. underappreciated or assumed by the eye. Large acrylic cylinder tanks leave no room
for doubt as to the impressive scale and engineering involved in custom aquariums.

"The concept of
the cylinder-shaped
aquarium, first made
popular at the AquaDom
in Berlin, has truly
proven to capture the
imagination of the sight-
seeing public."

The tallest cylindrical aquarium in the world at Avia Park Mall, Moscow.

The aquarium at Avia Park Mall is the tallest cylindrical aquarium in the world. In fact, the
divers who maintain the aquariums interior must make compression stops. All told, the
aquarium is 75-feet tall, 20-feet in diameter and holds 98,000 gallons of salt water. To
contain such pressure, the walls were engineered to be up to eight inches thick, requiring a
total of 55 metric tons of acrylic.

Visually, the aquarium at Avia Park has a hypnotic quality while being home to 2,500
specimens of fish and a majestic, spiraling Red Sea reef. Structurally, however, the attraction
is more a model of precise aquarium engineering than aesthetic craft. What appears to be

Reynolds Polymer Technology, Inc. 607 Hollingsworth Street Grand Junction, CO 81505 970.241.4700
RPT Asia, Limited 109/15 Moo 4 Eastern Seaboard Industrial Estate Soi ESIE 6B Pluakdaeng Rayong 21140 Thailand
reynoldspolymer.com Contact: Ed Mueck, Marketing Manager
Way Beyond Ordinar y 2014. R-Cast and Way Beyond Ordinary are registered trademarks of Reynolds Polymer Technology, Inc. All rights reserved.
6
a single column actually consists of 21 separate panels of R-Cast chemically bonded into
seven sections that weigh as much as 13 tons each.

Two cylinder projects by Reynolds Polymer, AquaDream in Casablanca and AquaDom


in Berlin, include stunning underwater elevators that run directly down their centers. No
visitor will be soon to forget the thrill of descending into the depths while looking down on
a crowded, modernistic mall. Providing such experiences is the reward of every individual
player in the trade and a duty of the attractions industry itself.


Inside the underwater elevator at Morocco Design
Mall, Casablanca.

" ...designing and


manufacturing the correct
panel for a commercial
aquarium, especially those
that involve water and/
or wildlife, requires a
highly competent aquarium The complex and technical elements involved in aquarium design require an experienced firm.
manufacturer with
considerable experience. When acrylic is used in an exhibit featuring water, animals, or (as often the case) both,
nearly every facet of the panels must be carefully considered. The shape, length, height
and thickness of each panel is determined in response to factors such as water load, animal
load, and environment.

Custom acrylic panels in zoo and aquarium applications can be subjected to pressure
from thousands (or even millions) of gallons of water, wind, and a variety of environmental
temperatures. Therefore, a safety factor that is many times beyond the minimum is
necessary. All R-Cast acrylic sheets are designed to a membrane tensile stress level of
800 psi. This acrylic design parameter gives a safety factor of 11.2 based on the ASME
standard of 9,000 psi tensile strength. This essentially means that the panels are eleven
times stronger than they need to be to handle a long term load, such as water.

In some cases, an animal such as a bear or seal can present a short term load for the
panel. This also must be taken into account, including the weight of the animal and speed at
Mega panels, such as this one at which it swims. Yet another consideration is any damage that the animal may inflict on the
Singapore's SEA Aquarium, are subjected to viewing panel, such as ramming or scratching.
pressure from millions of gallons of water.
At the end of the day, designing and manufacturing the correct panel for a commercial
aquarium, especially those that involve large amounts of water and/or wildlife, requires a
highly competent aquarium manufacturer with considerable experience.
Reynolds Polymer Technology, Inc. 607 Hollingsworth Street Grand Junction, CO 81505 970.241.4700
RPT Asia, Limited 109/15 Moo 4 Eastern Seaboard Industrial Estate Soi ESIE 6B Pluakdaeng Rayong 21140 Thailand
reynoldspolymer.com Contact: Ed Mueck, Marketing Manager
Way Beyond Ordinar y 2014. R-Cast and Way Beyond Ordinary are registered trademarks of Reynolds Polymer Technology, Inc. All rights reserved.
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